Surfboard carrier

ABSTRACT

A surfboard carrier comprises a frame member having a hand grip on its upper portion. Attached at its middle, to the rear of the frame member, is a downwardly-directed, two ended gripping member having cushion pad gripping means at both its opposing ends, the pads serving to protect the surfboard, which is inserted between them. Another downwardly directed gripping member is attached, at its middle, to the forward portion of the frame member, and it also has its opposing free ends provided with cushion pad gripping means to protect the surfboard which is inserted between them. At least one strap has one end attached to the frame member near midpoint between the two gripping members. It is used to circumscribe and to hold tightly the surfboard, after which its other end is fastened to the frame member.

I United States Patent m1 3,591,063

[72] Inventor Arthur R Pearce 2,783,077 2/1957 Pierce 294/33 8 Kupper Drive, Normandy Beach, NJ. 2,850,318 9/1958 Mulhern 294/16 X 08840 3,073,493 1/1963 Pfaffenberger 1. 294/312 X [2| P 848'604 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza [22] Filed Aug.8,l969 IE J ldM F b [45] Patented July 6,19." 618 an xammerero ors erg Attorney-Peter J. Gaylor ABSTRACT: A surfboard carrier comprises a frame member [54] 3: having a hand grip on its upper portion. Attached at its middle, to the rear of the frame member, is a downwardly- U-S- directed two ended member having cushion pad 224/49 gripping means at both its opposing ends, the pads serving to 1 565d 71/00 protect the surfboard, which is inserted between them. H 214/374, Another downwardly directed gripping member is attached, at 2 its middle, to the forward portion of the frame member, and it 55;294/16,27,28, 3 also has its opposing free ends provided with cushion pad i pin means to protect the surfboard which is inserted [56] References Cm it wee them. At least one strap has one end attached to the UNITED STATES PATENTS frame member near midpoint between the two gripping mem- 728,450 5/1903 Everett 224/45 bers. It is used to circumscribe and to hold tightly the surf- 2,113,780 10/1936 Yeats 214/375 X board, after which its other end is fastened to the frame 2,752,974 7/1956 Runner 224/49 X member.

PATENTEDJUL sum 3.591.063

INVIZN'TUR.

ARTHUR R. PEARCE ATTORNEY SURFBOARD CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The carrier of the present invention is for use with surfboards which are light and short enough to be carried by hand. At present, most surfboards of this type are carried by hand. However, the arms of many people are not long enough to reach the lower edge of the board, thus necessitating carrying the board on the head or by a sling, such as that described in US. Pat. No. 3,377,007.

Surfboards are generally made of fragile material, such as polystyrene foam coated with a plastic coating. It has been found that slings, such as those heretofore mentioned, permit the surfboard to slip out and become damaged. Also, since the surfboard is carried over the shoulder with such slings, it is difficult to watch the ends of the board, which sometimes get caught on nearby objects that tend to damage them.

There has been a need for a safer and more convenient carrier for such surfboards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a readily detachable carrier is provided for small surfboards which enables carrying the board in one hand, so that care can be exercised while the board is being transported. A frame member, having a hand grip on its upper portion has two downwardly and oppositely directed spaced gripping members, attached at their middles, to the frame member. Each gripping member has its open opposing ends provided with cushioning pad means, so as not to damage the surfboard inserted between the open ends of both gripping members. At least one flexible strap, attached at one end to the frame member between the two gripping members, tightly surrounds the board, and its other end is fastened to the frame member. It serves to hold the board between the gripping pad ends of the gripping members and prevents the board from falling out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment is described, and in which:

FIG. 1 prevents a perspective side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention as employed in carrying a surfboard; and

FIG, 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, without the surfboard.

The same numerals refer to the same or similar parts in the different figures.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, numeral designates a U-shaped tubular frame member, made of aluminum, or similar material, the upper end of which terminates with a hand grip 11. The

other end of member 10 has mounted thereon an arcuateshaped, downwardly directed tubular member 12, which is attached at its center to member 10 by means of rivets 13, or the like. The ends of clamping member 12 are fitted with rubber pads 14, or the like, to protect the surfboard 15 which is inserted therebetween.

At the forward end of frame member 10, near the bend 16, is mounted another arcuate-shaped, downwardly directed tu bular clamping member 17, which may be similar to member 12, and which also is fastened at its center by rivets 18, or the like. The ends of member 17 also are provided with cushioning pads 19, which may be of rubber, or the like, and between which surfboard 15 is inserted.

Halfway between the two clamping members 12 and 17, and attached at one end to an engaging means, such as a swivel eye 20, on frame member 10, is elastic strap 12, made of rubber, or the like. This strap is used to circumscribe tightly surfboard 15, after which its other end, having a hook, is fastened to eye 22 on frame member 10, opposite eye 20. Strap 21 serves to hold surfboard 15 in position and to prevent it from slipping out ofgripping pads 14 and 19.

The carrier of the present invention is designed to hold a small surfboard. The board is slipped in between gripper pads 14 and between gripper pads 19 until its upper edge 15 is abutting frame member 10. Thereafter, strap 21 is tightly fitted around the board and its end is hooked onto eye 20. The board is then ready to be carried by hand grip 11.

In FIG. 2, another embodiment of the invention is depicted, wherein the both gripping or clamping members 12 and 17 are angularly shaped at 22 to enable the opposing gripping pads 14 and 19 to grip the surfboard (not shown). Also, a T- shaped handgrip 11' is attached to the central upper portion of frame member 10, which may carry a cushioning pad 23 to prevent injury to the edge of the surfboard which may abut the frame member.

Although one strap 21 is shown for holding the surfboard in place, it is to be understood that more than one strap may be used, attachable in spaced relation on frame member 10 between the gripping members.

It is to be understood that all of the exposed metal parts of the aforesaid surfboard carrier may be coated with plastic or other rubbery composition, not only for the protection of the surfboard to be carried, but also as protection against the severe corrosion in the salty environment.

Iclaim:

1. A surfboard carrier, comprising:

a U-shaped frame member on the upper open end of which is mounted a hand grip,

a first downwardly directed arcuate-shaped gripping member attached at its middle to the other open end of said frame member, and having cushion gripping pads attached to both its open ends to protect a surfboard insertable therebetween,

a second downwardly directed arcuate-shaped gripping member attached at its middle to the forward lower portion of said frame member, near the bend, said latter gripping member also having cushion gripping pads attached to both its free ends to protect a surfboard insertable therebetween, and

a strap having one end attached to said frame member near the midpoint between both gripping members, and having fastening means at its other end to be fastened to said frame member after snugly circumscribing a surfboard and serving to hold said board within said gripping members. 

1. A surfboard carrier, comprising: a U-shaped frame member on the upper open end of which is mounted a hand grip, a first downwardly directed arcuate-shaped gripping member attached at its middle to the other open end of said frame member, and having cushion gripping pads attached to both its open ends to protect a surfboard insertable therebetween, a second downwardly directed arcuate-shaped gripping member attached at its middle to the forward lower portion of said frame member, near the bend, said latter gripping member also having cushion gripping pads attached to both its free ends to protect a surfboard insertable therebetween, and a strap having one end attached to said frame member near the midpoint between both gripping members, and having fastening means at its other end to be fastened to said frame member after snugly circumscribing a surfboard and serving to hold said board within said gripping members. 